Sunday, February 1, 2009

Steps - Preps - Visits

I know it doesn’t quite have the ring that I envisioned. Well, not everything works out the way we want it all the time. I guess that has been the thought for the week. I’d actually been thinking this week of the value of what I am about to undertake, the maybe even the reality of travel, especially since it is so far and all. What if I get there and something happens back home, was my first question. I take things like that seriously and shouldn’t I? I am not a worry-wort... I don’t think. It is just a good question that I asked myself. I have a pregnant daughter who might need me for some unknown reason. My son is trying to get moved into his house and well, there are all those last minute electrical things. I have another daughter who is preparing for a trip to England and what if she needs something? The biggest thoughts were the what ifs... for Karen and home? Well, in the great scheme of things I decided that all these things belong to God, not me. We are all in His care day to day and why should I worry about the little things that I can blow out of proportion or context and thus diminish that to which I am being called. Well, maybe because I am human.... but not enough reason not to give God His due and His ownership of my life, my family and my goods.

Yes, it has been a journey and each trip takes the “Steps” and the “Preps” to get ready. We are underway quite well I think and it has been made even more real and exciting by the visit of our fearless leaders Rev. Dr. Shant Manuel and his dear wife Ginny. They spent the evening with us yesterday and will be bringing the message today at our Temple Service. We found out some interesting facts about the culture, what we would experience, what not to take or flaunt amidst the masses... I guess there are the masses! I am looking forward to the experiences what I will find there. Can you in your minds eyes imagine a different culture. I have tried before on some of the trips we have taken. Even a minor cross-cultural experience can change a life... I am having trouble getting my heard around this one though. My friends Bobbi and Ira could likely lend me lots of stories of how it can be a shock while also being a wonderful experience... Bobbi has .... she is a wonderful communicator and I’ve followed their ministry in Mexico.

Well, I thought that I would add a few thoughts about the week. I hope to get time each week while I am there to jot down a few thoughts on the Bog for your enjoyment of the ministry there and for your focus on prayer for us. In the meant time I am surrounded by a hundred other things that will need to be done before I can go and I will get what I can accomplish in and leave the rest for my return...brave or pure folly, I am not sure, but hey.... life brings all kinds of “stuff” sometime and it takes a real saint to be able to filter it all and not leave something really important out any of the time.

If you are interested... keep praying for us... Prayer is the power-house of the ministry! Your prayers and mine can make the difference for what can be accomplished and what God wants accomplished.